SINCE curve balls have emerged as a standard ploy at these finals, at least by coaches if not always by free kick specialists, the England players are refusing to take the Germans at their word regarding the expected absence of Juergen Klinsmann from tomorrow's Euro 96 semi final at Wembley. But it's clear the great man's tournament is over.

A German team spokesman, Wolfgang Niersbach, confirmed yesterday: "Klinsmann is loo per cent out of the game against England. He has no chance to play. But both he and (Fredi) Bobic will stay with us and support us for this big game.

"This is the first time in his career that Klinsmann has suffered this kind of injury problem," added Niersbach. "He has no experience of it and so he hopes he might be fit for the final if Germany get through. But realistically his chances of playing would be 0.5 per cent."

The Germans had already lost key defender Juergen Kohler who went home after the first game with ruptured knee ligaments, and Mario Basler, who damaged an ankle. With Klinsmann's fellow striker Bobic out of the tournament with torn shoulder cartilage, also suffered against the combative Croats, the Germans are effectively reduced to 18 players.

Of those, defenders Stefan Reuter, Thomas Helmer and Rene Schneider are nursing knocks. Should they advance to Sunday's final, then the German squad is likely to be further pruned. Excluding Klinsmann, seven carry yellow cards into tomorrow's contest.

England have their walking wounded as well, four of whom sat out yesterdays training session at Bisham Abbey. Paul Gascoigne is the prime concern, and is undergoing intensive treatment on the ankle injury he suffered against Spain.

Terry Venables remains optimistic the midfielder will be ready to face the old enemy, along with Teddy Sheringham, Darren Anderton and Tony Adams

Sheringham is recovering from a dead leg, while the other two have aggravated old injuries.

But Anderton's hamstring problem did not prevent him from playing against Spain, while Adams is becoming adept at recovering from the painful knee condition, a legacy of the cartilage operation he underwent in January, and should be fit.

Gary Neville is suspended, but Paul Ince returns from suspension. Ince added an interesting aside to the plot for tomorrow night when he suggested that the evening kick off will assist the English, not only because it will grant them cooler conditions but also some dew on the lush turf. The benefits of this were seen against the Dutch, when England produced their slickest passing of the campaign thus far.

Overall, the pendulum appears to be swinging more and more; toward them. Inevitably, they were made favourites yesterday, though the French have temporarily assumed the status of favourites for the tournament as a whole due to their supposedly easier semi final against a Czech side ravaged by suspensions.

England's unlikely favourites' tag has even been given the Kaiser's imprimatur, with Franz Beckenbauer perhaps indulging in some pre match kidology: "We were a little bit lucky to beat Croatia, because they didn't take ad vantage of their chances," he admitted. "But Germany still deserve to be in the semi final because they have played four games, won three and drawn one.

"It's the perfect result and everybody is looking forward to the game on Wednesday. The performance of the England team has really improved and they are in front of their home crowd. They are probably the favourites."

Klinsmann's absence means that only midfielders Andy Moller - Klinsmann handed him the captain's armband when he went off after 38 minutes of the quarter final - and Thomas Hassler, dropped against the Croats, have played at Wembley before. That was in Germany's 1-0 friendly win in 1991, England's last home defeat to European opposition.